Obituaries

Oct 7, 2022

John Robert “Johnny” Godfrey, age 73, of Baxley passed away Friday, October 7, 2022 at his residence after a long battle with dementia.

On Monday, May 16, 1949, at Goldman Hospital in Hazlehurst, in the early hours of morning at 3:38a.m. a 7lb. 15oz baby boy was born to Mrs. Lillie Grey O’Quinn Godfrey of...

Oct 4, 2022

Loyal Hardwick Murphy 70, husband to the late Connie Murphy and son of the late Ralph and Maggie Murphy, departed this life surrounded by his loving family. He will be remembered as an amazing, influential husband, daddy, grandpa, poppie, brother, uncle, friend and dedicated worker for 60 years before retiring in 2020. Loyal loved spending time with family and friends,...

Sep 25, 2022

Peggy Ruth Dean Luke, age 91, of Baxley passed away Sunday, September 25, 2022 at The Pavilion.

Mrs. Luke was born April 25, 1931 in Appling County to the late Horace Dean and the late Myra Carter Dean. She was a retired seamstress, having worked at Miller Western Wear and Ship-n-Shore. She was an active member of...

Sep 22, 2022

Joseph Terry “Joey” Swain, age 65, of Baxley passed away Thursday, September 22, 2022 at his residence.

Joey was born November 2, 1956 to the late Warren Eli Swain, Jr. and the late Ruth White Swain. He was a buyer and cruiser of timber and the owner of Swain Timber Company.  Joey enjoyed the outdoors, especially exploring...

Sep 20, 2022

James W. Cox, Jr., age 81, of Baxley, passed away Tuesday, September 20, 2022 in Brunswick.

Mr. Cox was born on April 11, 1941 in Lagrange, Georgia to the late James Willard Cox, Sr. and the late Jewell Colette Winkles. He was a Warehouseman for K-mart Warehouse and a member of the Million Dollar Club of Franklin...

Sep 18, 2022

Daniel Matthew Morris, age 59, of Baxley passed away Sunday, September 18, 2022 at his residence.

Mr. Morris was born January 7, 1963 in Lyons, Georgia to late Delmas Ray Morris and the late Shirley Willis Morris.  He was a pipefitter with Local 177 and served in the Georgia National Guard.

Survivors include his wife,...

Sep 15, 2022

Wilma L. Cauley, age 72, of Hazlehurst passed away Thursday, September 15, 2022 at Community Hospice in Vidalia.

Mrs. Cauley was born on March 22, 1950 in Enterprise, Alabama to the late Curtis Alcus Lowery and the late Winnie Lee Lowery.  She loved Jesus Christ and loved reading her bible; and was devoted to her family.

Sep 11, 2022

Charles Hubert Hubbard, age 88, of Baxley, died Sunday, September 11, 2022 at his residence.

Mr. Hubbard was born on September 6, 1934 in Atlanta, Georgia to the late Homer H. Hubbard and the late Frances Trawick Hubbard.  He was a timber cruiser and owner of Hubbard Timber Company.  He was an avid outdoorsman who...

Sep 10, 2022

James “Kelly” Beach 53 years old born in Baxley, Georgia passed away on September 10th, 2022 in Lawrenceville, Georgia.

Kelly will forever be cherished for his warmth, his courage, his enduring strength, his quick laugh, his love of life and especially his heart that held so much love for his family and friends. He particularly enjoyed rocking...

Sep 10, 2022

Elias Hobson “Hoppy” Craven, Jr., age 83, died Saturday, September 10, 2022 at Community Hospice in Vidalia.

Mr. Craven was born on April 3, 1939 in Ware County to the late Elias Hobson Craven, Sr. and the late Madge Tuten Craven.   He was a member of Satilla Missionary Baptist Church and a member of the Georgia Young...

Sep 5, 2022

Grady Willard Simpson, age 64, of Hazlehurst died Monday, September 5, 2022 at his residence.

Mr. Simpson was born September 7, 1957 in Toombs County and was a retired electrician. He was a devoted grandfather to his grandchildren. He loved catching white perch and watching his grandchildren play ball.

He is...

Sep 3, 2022

William Alford “Al” Pearce, II, age 59, of Surrency passed away Saturday, September 3, 2022 at Memorial Health University Medical Center in Savannah.

Mr. Pearce was born on December 18, 1962 in Bacon County and was a member of Zion Church of God.  He was a farmer, a certified mechanic and an avid fisherman and truck puller. ...

Sep 1, 2022

Tommy Lewis Tyre, Sr. age 82 of Surrency, Georgia passed away Thursday, September 1, 2022 at his residence.

Tommy was born February 8, 1940 in Appling County. Tommy retired from the railroad in 1997 and was a fifth generation farmer. Tommy enjoyed carpentry, gardening, barbequing and spending time with his grandsons and family. Many family members and...

Aug 31, 2022

Ronnie Junior “R.J.” Smith, age 67, of Hazlehurst who passed away Wednesday, August 31, 2022 in Baxley.

Mr. Smith was born on January 24, 1955 in Wayne, County and was a member of Big Oaks Church of God.  He was a retired truck driver and was preceded in death by his father, Frank Smith; and brothers, Tony...

Aug 29, 2022

Sharon Rae Sortwell, age 76, of Baxley died Monday, August 29, 2022 in Brunswick.

Ms. Sortwell was born on June 10, 1946 in Batesville, Indiana and has resided in Baxley for the past 33 years. She was employed with Altamaha Home Health and was a CNA for 40 years. Ms. Sortwell was preceded in death by her...

Aug 27, 2022

William Michael Harper, age 61, of Baxley passed away Saturday, August 27, 2022.

Mr. Harper was born June 3, 1961 in Bartow, Florida to the late William Leaston “Dub” Harper and Barbara Vickers Harper. He was an electrician and a member of IBEW Local 508.  Mr. Harper was preceded in death by his son, Erik Harvey.

Aug 22, 2022

Helen Brigman Thomas, age 78, of Baxley died Monday, August 22, 2022.

The Appling County native was a member of Asbury Methodist Church.  She enjoyed spending time with her dogs and visiting with others.  She was a fiercely independent soul who lived life her way until her passing.

Mrs. Thomas was preceded in death by...

Aug 20, 2022

Dr. Sidney Phillip Johnson, 86, of Hazlehurst, passed away peacefully on August 20, 2022, at his home. Known to many people as “Doc,” he was born on February 2, 1936, in Butts County, Georgia, to Spencer and Lucile Johnson, their only child. Doc was preceded in death by his parents; his grandson, Nathan Fleming of Arlington, Virginia; and Honey,...

Aug 19, 2022

Deborah Jo Geiger, age 69, of Dallas, Texas, passed away Friday, August 19, 2022 at Harborview Nursing Home in Jesup.

Mrs. Geiger was born November 12, 1952 in Dallas, Texas to the late Robert Lewis York and the late Joyce Laverne Kirk Blankenship.  She was an account executive for Estee Lauder Company and was preceded in death...

Aug 17, 2022

Nancy Gail Simmons, age 70, of Baxley, died Wednesday, August 17, 2022 at Memorial Health University Medical Center in Savannah.

Mrs. Simmons was born July 23, 1952 in Statesboro to the late Wilbur Levert Scott and the late Corrine Williams Scott.  She was a member of the Eastern Star and was the former owner of Johnson’s Florist...